Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Outside playing - trying to get him away from the new passion he has called you tube...

Me: "lets play a game."
Jake: "I have a game we can play. Its called shoot mom."
Me: looking at him funny as we have stayed away from guns for the most part here
Jake: "Mom, your the target -- I'm serious - You are the target."

Luckily for me - the shooting was from his toy boat that shot out life perservers. But where does he learn words like serious and target???? Way too smart for his own good.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

I finished my zig zag quilt top. I was a little worried that the border would take away from the zag effect, but I have to say I'm loving how it turned out!

I also finished the Easy Bricks pattern top.

The one on Moda Bake shop doesn't have a border - I'm tempted to add one - what do you think?

I finally got some quilting done too - of my own if you can believe it. I made this quilt about 2 years ago. I wanted to get it done by the 4th to display - but that didn't happen. Better late then never.

A close up of the quilting. I did stars in the blue, and cross hatching through the flag part. I like the way it turned out.

For this weekend I've got two client quilts to work on. I'm doing pantographs on both, so they take me a little longer. I also have a cute baby quilt in the works that I'm so excited to give at a shower in August. Pictures to come soon.

I took Tuesday night to myself, went downstairs at 6pm, came up at 9pm, went back down around 10pm and worked til about midnight. Got all the above projects done - including binding on the flag quilt. I love a productive night. What a mom can accomplish with no kids around is amazing!!!! Good to get back in the swing of things!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Last night I watched both my little butterballs fall asleep. I have to say there is nothing better in this world then my little sleeping Sam. He is so cute - whenever he turns over he smacks his lips over and over again, making the cutest little sounds. He is such a bundle of energy day in and day out, that to watch him be so still and peaceful is a small miracle all in itself.

Today I spent the day with my kids in between emails and conference calls. Sam has a little airplane that plays What a Wonderful World as one of the songs. Everytime this song goes off, I immediatley think of my Grandpa Jiggs. He loved this song, loved Louis Armstrong, and lived by the mantra of that song.

I think about Jiggs often and all the great times we had together. So much of my childhood is wrapped up in times spent with Jiggs. I worked for him from the time I was in middle school. Spent nights playing cards and dominos, going to Jazz games, having sing a longs with the family. I think of how different life would have been if he was still around (and had stayed frozen in time as the grandpa I grew up with). How I would have loved for Mike to have met him, for my kids to have spent time with him. I would love to see Jiggs watch Tyler, Benji, and Bud all become fathers. He would have loved to see these boys he was so close to turn into fathers. And he would have loved all these little boys we all have - and the little girls - he would have loved the talent shows and singing those girls can bring!

I love that a little tune from my kids toy can take me back years and remind me of such a wonderful man. And that his mantra in life is something I try to remember every day.

I've been working on a few projects lately. I've never been one to start a project while working on another, but I've thrown that theory out the door.

The week before I left for Oceanside I made a couple of baby quilts for Whit and Marta who both had baby gifts to give. I have to say - I LOVE the girl quilt we made for Marta. I didn't snap a picture, but I bought fabric to do it again. Turned out so cute. We used the quick method to get them done, but they still turned out so cute.

This last week I quilted a few quilts for people. This applique quilt is so cute! Not necessarily the quilting but the actual quilt. It was so much fun to do.

Sunday night I stayed up til about 1am finishing the quilt top of my Blissful Zig Zag quilt. I love this quilt! I am so excited to get the borders put on and get it quilted. No idea what I'm going to do with it, but I am loving it.

I also have all my blocks sewn together for the Easy Bricks quilt. Now I just have to start sewing them together. Hopefully I can find some time this week.

I also have a quilt to do for my mom - prepping work to start before the weekend - and cut out a quilt for Whit and a baseball one for my boys. Most importantly I have a cute little quilt to get started on for a shower in August. I'm excited to see how its going to turn out.

I use not let myself start on a new project til the other one was completed - I think I've gotten over that. I really like having a few going on in different stages so if I have a minute here or there I can pick up something and feel like I'm making progress. Is that a theme in my life? Making progress - I feel like I've got to be productive....wonder why.

Monday, July 11, 2011

After taking a break from cooking for the last....month or so - I've decided to get back into it. Mike and I are both trying to lose some weight for an upcoming trip and so we have really been watching it. I'm not watching calories - not saying no to anything, but with limited calories per day - one really has to think before eating. I made enchiladas last night - which the pan had 2400 calories in all - but I portion controlled them and make sure to get 12 servings taking it down to 220 calories per serving...pretty good for cheese covered enchiladas.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

A few months ago I went to dinner with 3 of my oldest friends. Courtney - whom I've known since I was 9 months old and she was born. Emily who I don't remember when we met, but it seems like we've always been in each others lives. Our friendship blossomed around the 7th grade. And Angie, who I have known since 6th grade and spent all my middle and high school years running around with.

I cannot even begin to put into words how much fun we had. Courtney and I drove together and it amazes me how even though we haven't talked in months even a year sometimes we pick right back up as if we talked on the phone yesterday. I was in tears from laughing by the time we got to Angie's house.

We met Emily at the restaurant and we ate and laughed and talked for 3 hours. We closed down the place went outside and talked some more. I had told Mike it would be a late night, I don't think he realized I wouldn't walk in the door until nearly midnight. (It was a Tuesday for crying out loud). I don't get together with friends often anymore. Everyone gets busy with work, family, kids baseball games etc. But this was one of those nights I will remember forever.

I love the feeling of getting together with old friends who know you so well, even after all this time and space. I love the feeling nothing has changed no matter how long it has been since we last talked. I love talking about old friends from high school and Courtney pulls out her phone to her facebook page so we can all get a glimpse of so and so's life. I love laughing til it hurts and tears are flowing. I loved coming home that night and falling asleep with a smile on my face because these girls will be my friends for life. I love writing this post and remembering the night with yet another smile on my face - I love those girls!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Friday I left work a little early.
Came home to catch with my sister
Play with my kids
Quick dinner of hotdogs and fruit
A swim in the pool
How to Train your Dragon was the movie of choice
Popcorn + energy drinks

Sunday, July 3, 2011

I saw a movie once that talked about moments in peoples lives. You don't have those moments on video or in pictures, but those are the moments and memories that are thought about for years to come.

In the movie they play back these memories to the song sung by Nat King Cole - The Very Thought of You.

This last week we spent the week in Oceanside CA at a beach house with Mike's whole family. I think there was 34 of us in this beach house. It was a huge 5 level (lots o' stairs and an elevator) house. Each family got their own room and bathroom which was nice. There was two LARGE kitchen and family room areas, 2 balcony's, a patio with access to the beach, and 2 hot tubs. It was dreamy to say the least. I did take many pictures and they will be coming soon, but my thoughts keep going back to all the moments I don't have pictures of.

-Late night walk on the beach with Jake. Running away from the waves. Watching him fall in love with the beach just like I am.
-Sam hiding his feet in the sand.
-One AM laughing session with Gina, Brandy, and Brittany (Brandy get a blog)
-Talent Shows (I may have a few pics of this one)
-Sharon (my MIL) playing poker in a hoodie and sun glasses - gangster style
-Jake with the girls (he LOVES playing with his new to him cousins)
-All the little kids circling an ipad, taking turns and watching each other play games
-Mckinly - may be the cutest little girl ever!!!
-Lacey doing everyone's nails - I got a pedi too.
-Riding bikes up and down the beach

Needless to say we had a week full of fun memories. We have never done anything like this with the Latimer family before - and I hope this isn't the one and only. We had so much fun spending time with all the families. I am sad to say 2 of Mike's nieces I have barely met til this trip. TEN YEARS into our marriage and I'm still meeting people in his family. And they are who I spent the most time with on the trip! This trip opened my eyes to how important it is to make an effort to stay close to your family. It was so much fun to watch my kids interact with the great grandkids (who are closer to their age) and watch Sam who goes to no one, run into Grandpa's arms every morning when he saw him. By the end of the trip he was running around with the kids and letting Gina take him on walks. We sure could have used a few more days!

It was so much fun - and I can't wait to get together with the family again. Even if it isn't at a beach house - although that sure was a beauty!